In which we go "hmmmm..."

[jesshartley]

Stolen from various folks around the net...

In 2007, jesshartley resolves to...

Give up freelancing.
Go to dialogue every Sunday.
Give up kalamata olives.
Pay for my predators on time.
Cut down to ten conventions a day.
Get back in contact with some old words.

Get your own New Year's Resolutions:

Interesting.

Lots of this rather spot on. I would love to do 10 conventions a day, but I'd settle for 10 a year. :) I do try to pay for my predators on time, and to go to dialogue at least every Sunday (every day, really, but especially on Sundays.) And I really should get back into contact with some old words; the sequel to my novel is taunting me to write it.

But as for the rest... Somehow I don't think I'm giving up something that I really truly enjoy so much.

I mean, there are downsides, and not everyone understands why I won't give it up...

It's strange, and sometimes hard to find, and not to everyone's taste, for certain.

But kalamata olives are very special to me.

Comments

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Nice bait and switch....

[mythdude.livejournal.com]

Wait, so you're the one who buys so many predators? I knew it! Every time I try to order some they say they're out! Dang it!

related yet unrelated question

[casiel.livejournal.com]

What's the average starting salary for a freelance RPG writer/designer who works for an established company (like White Wolf or Wizards)?

I'm sick and tired of working in Tech Support, but I doubt I could feed my family as an RPG writer. What's your experience with that?

Re: related yet unrelated question

[jesshartley.livejournal.com]

Freelancers don't get salaries. We get paid by the word, most often. So it depends on what projects you're working on, what your salary rate (usually depending on experience and the size/finances of the company you're working for), how many projects you get lined up and how fast the company pays you.

I think Wizards hires some full time RPG writers (but don't quote me on that.) I don't think that White Wolf has any on staff (salaried) who are just writers rather than developers, but I could be wrong. (I'm not sure what Justin Achilli is doing with the company right now, for example, and MMORGs are an entirely different matter, but again, aren't freelance.)

I would never advise someone with a finite amount of monthly expenses (rent/bills, etc) to quit a day job to take up freelancing full time. It's just too hard to work up to the point where you are making anywhere near what you need to pay basic expenses. Right now, after 3-4 years of freelancing, I'm bringing enough projects to be working mostly full time at it... and over the last year, I have brought in under $1000 per month. And even then, it's not $1000 a month. It might be nothing for 6-8 weeks, then a check for $1500 and then nothing for two weeks, then a check for $400, then nothing for another month or two. It just depends on what your individual contract reads, how fast your developer turns in the pay requests, how fast the payroll department processes them, etc.


Now, there are some full time development positions (White Wolf just hired three folks). But all of them had worked in the industry before, were willing to move to Atlanta, and at least two of them had considerable freelancing experience with the company.

If you're interested in eventually doing something like that, doing part time freelance work while working the day job may be your best option. Do good, and keep your ears out for when they're hiring

But I would also never advise anyone to start working in the industry for the money. Over the past few years (heck, even this last year when I've been really really busy) I think I could have made more per hour working at McDonalds (when you consider in research, revisions, etc.) than freelancing. But there are some perks that writing does have over other jobs (no one has ever gotten wide-eyed and said "Really? How cool!" when I told them I was a secretary...)

Re: related yet unrelated question

[casiel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

If only the GamerGeek prestige correlated with a beefy, regular paycheck. *le sigh*

Oh well, it's high time I stopped being all emo about it and started submitting my work so that I can gain the preliminary résumé needed for a Developer job...

Thanks again and congratulations on your dieting results! That's another thing I need to do--at least I like veggies.